They’re Ready to Duke It Out

This past year wasn’t a great one for sequels in Hollywood (except for the “Lord of the Rings” franchise) or sports. But the first sequel of 2004 holds great promise.

No. 1 Connecticut and No. 4 Duke do battle again Saturday. Last year the Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 and the Huskies No. 2 and both were undefeated when they met on Duke’s home floor. Connecticut won, 77-65.

This time Connecticut (9-0) and Duke (9-1) will play at the Hartford Civic Center, an arena that will be jammed with more than 16,000 fans.

The Blue Devils started the season at No. 2, but lost their opener to Texas. Since then Duke has won nine in a row. And after Monday’s 81-53 victory over Loyola Marymount, the Blue Devils sounded very eager for the rematch with Connecticut.

“We’re gonna go in there with a lot of intensity,” said Alana Beard, a two-time All-American guard. “It is a revenge game because we didn’t play as well as we wanted to last year on our home court so we have some making up to do.

“It will be a hard-fought game, I can guarantee you that.”

Beard is having a fine senior season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. She also leads the Blue Devils in steals (35) and is second in blocked shots (nine).

She knows there are fans who want to turn the game into a personal duel with Connecticut’s Diana Taurasi, Beard’s chief competition for national player-of-the-year honors. She’s careful to steer the conversation away from comparisons, primarily because Taurasi already has two NCAA championships and Beard has none.

And for all of her accomplishments, Beard has never been at ease in the spotlight.

“I’ve always been a team player,” Beard said. “Our team is like a circle and we can’t afford to let anyone in. That’s what I go by. I keep it in the circle. Keep the outsiders out and we keep what’s in, in. That’s how I deal with it.”

While fretting mildly about her team’s overall health, Duke Coach Gail Goestenkors said she has a stronger team to challenge the Huskies.

“We’ve got more depth than we’ve had since probably 1999,” Goestenkors said. “We’re not exactly where we want to be, but that’s OK because it’s a long season. I feel really good about where we are now, and where we’re headed.”

Attitude won’t be the only thing Duke brings to Hartford. There’s also Monique Currie. The sophomore guard sat out last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Her presence was missed even though Duke went to the Final Four. Currie, who averages 13.8 points, not only provides Duke a scorer to keep teams from keying on Beard and center Iciss Tillis, she gives Duke its sense of toughness.

It usually takes a full year to fully regain the strength and mobility in the knee after that type of injury, but Currie no longer wears a brace and is showing signs of her former speed and power around the basket.

“I feel better and better with every game, and I’m more comfortable with attacking the basket,” Currie said. “I doing different things that I was hesitant about at first. I think I’m pretty much 100%.

“I’m really excited. This is really a big game for us to see where we stand with other teams around the country.”

Especially the No. 1 team.

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Arizona State Coach Charli Turner Thorne gave birth Tuesday to her third son, Quinn Joseph Thorne. Both mother and son were reported to be doing fine. Quinn joins brothers Conor, 4, and Liam, 2.

Don’t expect Turner Thorne to miss a game, either. She coached the Sun Devils to an 84-81 victory over Washington on Monday night, went to the hospital to have Quinn, and plans to be back on the bench when Arizona State plays Arizona on Friday in Tucson.